Though it’s taken three and half years, the trial date has finally been set for the murder cases of the family members of Jennifer Hudson. When will William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister Julia, stand trial for his alleged crimes from back in October 2008? Read on for when the American Idol alum may finally hope to see justice achieved.

According to BET, William Balfour, will stand trial beginning April 23. He allegedly broke into the Hudson’s home in Chicago and took the lives of Jennifer’s mother Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King.

Hudson’s seven-year-old nephew was not found until three days later, when his body was discovered in the back of Balfour’s SUV.

Balfour was arrested in December of 2008 and faces multiple counts of first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion. Though his lawyers have succeeded in delaying his trial for so many years, Cook County Judge Charles Burns decreed yesterday that the case must move forward. Jury selection begins April 9.

“It’s such a shocking thing,” she said. “It’s a lot to take in. It’s like, ‘OK, is this real? Did this really happen?’ It’s hard to put it in sync with reality.”

She also said that the spirit of her mother remains to be her ultimate inspiration.

“I try to do everything to say, ‘OK, will my mother like this? Will she be pleased? Will she be proud of that? How do I know she’s happy and she’s smiling down at me from heaven?’” she said. “That’s what I try to go by and walk by.”

Hudson’s book I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me is out now.